The James Ranch Youth Shelter is located on the Assurance Home campus. It is the home next to the windmill.

Assurance Home began this new program in September 1, 2004. This exciting endeavor was made possible by the generosity of James V. Atterberry who remembered Assurance Home through is estate.

The shelter was opened to provide temporary housing and services to young people ages 12-18 who find themselves in difficult situations and require short-term intervention while authorities determine what is going on in their lives. Many of these youngsters have been mistreated, abandoned or they are runaways. The services are intended to be only temporary and include arrangements for mental health assessments and an extensive evaluation of both their needs and the resources available to them. Some of these children end up in placement at our group home.

The available 6 beds in the shelter have been mostly full since it was opened, with an average stay of 30-60 days.

Ron Malone, the director of Assurance Home says, “It is quite a milestone for Roswell because for 20 years or so people have been trying to get a shelter care facility in Roswell for kids who just need emergency placement”. Prior to the opening of the shelter, children from Roswell, Artesia and Ruidosa were sent to shelters in Hobbs, Las Cruces or Albuquerque when all they need is a few nights stay.
Jean Snyder, emergency care coordinator for the shelter said the new shelter will help children from Roswell remain in school, and stay near their friends and families.

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Assurance Home opens up youth shelter

Assurance Home sets up emergency youth shelter